Harbor seal makes her way to health, back to sea

The fully recovered "Hotlips" was successfully released back to her native home after a two-month stay at the National Marine Life Center in Buzzards Bay.

Laura Fedak Pedulli

SANDWICH — When the Army Corps of Engineers first found a critically injured young female harbor seal along the Cape Cod Canal in mid-November, the situation didn't look promising.

The young seal's snout was covered with infected sores, causing large portions of tissue to die and slough off. She appeared thin and lethargic. The International Fund For Animal Welfare's Marine Mammal Rescue Team quickly transferred her to the National Marine Life Center in Buzzards Bay's recently opened animal hospital.

"This animal basically had some of the most severe injuries I've seen in a seal. She was so debilitated when she came in, anything we could do wouldn't help," recalled Kathy Zagzebski, executive director of the National Marine Life Center. "But we thought she deserved a chance."

The NMLC named the seal Major Margaret "Hotlips" Houlihan (from the show "M*A*S*H"), as she was discovered on Veterans Day, and so began the fight for her life. The chance paid off.

On Sunday, after a two-month stay at the NMLC animal hospital — the fully recovered Hotlips was successfully released back to her native home: the ocean waters.

With an enthusiastic crowd of more than 200 people looking on, the seal was carried out in a small animal crate along Scusset Beach and ceremoniously led to the waters. Volunteers lined up carrying boards in case the seal attempted to go back ashore, but they did not need them. After a quick detour along the coastline, Hotlips ventured south and farther and farther away, until she was a mere speck in the vast ocean.

This first swim came after a long fight. Upon her admittance to NMLC, Hotlips received a series of intense treatments, including application of antibiotics to the infected areas and tube feeding. The nose injuries puzzled staff, but the symmetrical shape on both sides of her snout led some to believe she had gotten caught in something and was not victim to a predator or boat propeller.

After two weeks of intensive care, she turned a corner and began acting more active and alert.

"The day she started to eat fish on her own was awesome," Zagzebski said. But the ultimate test came when she was placed in the animal hospital's water tank to confirm she could seal her nose, which is required to dive and catch prey. After a successful swim in the shallow pool, she later demonstrated she could track and capture live fish.

"She did great, instinct took over. She demonstrated she is capable of being a wild animal, which is exactly what we look for," Zagzekski said.

On the day of her release, onlookers marveled at Hotlips' confident swim. Many had brought their families to witness the event, including Mary Sullivan of Marston Mills.

"It's a great thing to do, a great experience," said Sullivan with her children in tow. "It's a way to show kids interested in animals ways to help them."

"I just thought it would be cool to see," added her son Jack, 12.

Shortly after Hotlips made her voyage to sea, Zagzebski was all smiles.

"This is more exciting than anything else," said Zagzebski, who said although she'll miss her, she is where she should be. "It's a big ocean, (she) looks so small, but that's (her) home."